Thank you, and thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes. It has been a nice day. I've had some lovely gifts from family. I always like nice birthday cards more than a gift to be honest, and I have had some lovely, thoughtful cards. I've had lots of text messages too, and was treated to a fish and chips lunch by my niece, so it can't be bad.

Its not a stupid question Teejay but they simply take the top eight plus 2 substitutes who come next if they can be persuaded to sit around for 5 days in the hope of getting a match Was it two years ago when Andy was injured and lost to ferrer in the first round? Tipsarevic was coopted in Andy's place and did quite well

Ah, that makes sense. I remember Andy going out to Ferrer in the RR stage (I think) and Tipsy getting in now you mention it. Thanks BB.

Thanks. Just had two nice phone chats with my sisters, one who lives in Dublin and the other in Wales, so that was lovely too, then I rounded off by watching Andy win the Olympic Gold...again. A good day all around .

If he's burnt out and that's what he needs to come back stronger, then I'm fine with that.

I struggle with the rankings stuff, so hypothetically speaking, if he did that and came back for the AO, would that help him in the points for next year?

Over to the experts, thanks...

Thought I responded before, but seems I didn't post it! OK with me too if Andy takes the rest of the year off. The pics of him and Kim looking so relaxed and happy on the beach in the Bahamas were fabulous - even if they should never have been published. If he needs more of that, fine.

But has anyone in his team suggested that this might happen? I know John McEnroe advised it...

If he did take the rest of the year off I don't see it could actually help with points for next year - except that this time next year everything would be a bonus as there would be no points to defend.

Otherwise, as people have said, Andy would start the year with 5790 points, almost certainly ranked 3 or 4, with quite a lot of points to defend in January. Mostly the points he gained in tournaments this year would be replaced by whatever he gains next year.

However I think he would also have 0 point penalties for Tokyo and Basel as well as Washington, which would last for a year, so he might not be able to count points from lesser tournaments while these penalties are in force. But he might not play lesser tournaments, and if he "came back stronger" and gained more points from the 1000s it might not make much difference anyway. Hope that makes sense.

There is a further penalty for missing Masters 1000 tournaments - eg Shanghai. It doesn't apply to Fed, Djoko, Nadal or Ferrer because they've played over 600 matches. I've asked before, and no one has come up with an example of it being enforced, so I doubt Andy would be affected"Players with direct acceptance who do not play an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament will be suspended from a subsequent ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, which will be the next highest points earned ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event within the next 12 months. If an injured player is on site within the first three days of a tournament to conduct promotional activities over a two-day period, a suspension will not be enforced but a 0-pointer will be counted on a player's ranking".http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/Rankpx

I can't see Andy taking the rest of the year off, but if my memory is right he is due to play in Japan and Bangkok. I wonder if he might drop Bangkok, which he didn't play last year and so has nothing to defend.

What John McEnroe advised was Andy playing DC and then taking a month out, which would take him up to Shanghai. That made sense to me, but it equally wouldn't surprise me if Andy plays all the events he is sceduled to play. We'll see.

Mental exhaustion sounds to me like it's something very different to psychical exhaustion. We all know Andy has great fitness usually, a good training regime to help keep up his fitness and reduce injury risk, as well as good support team.

Sometimes this kind of stuff can be dealt with in the strangest of ways I think.

I don't think Andy will be pulling out of anything tbh. He is a strong character I also think he will be absolutely fine.

I agree completely with you that he is a strong character. As to whether easing off a bit for a while would be beneficial to him in the long run, the juries still out on that one. Obviously in the end it will be his decision, and his alone.

It's not a risk worth taking. What if bombs out in first round in Australia with no points cushion? We cannot rely on Indian Wells to gain. Certainly he can't gain in Miami. The clay season yes he can gain but then there is Wimbledon with 2000 points. It's a dumb idea.

Thinking longer term I'm glad Andy is playing fewer tournaments even if it jeopardises his ranking in the shorter term. He would be mad to do a Ferrer chasing every last tournament in sight. Can't believe that once I'm back from holiday it will be only just over a month till WTF. Have got tickets for Thurs through to Sun. It won't be in London for ever so I'm making hay while the sun shines. Just please don't get injured Andy like 2 years ago Saltire ready and waiting; voice in training

What John McEnroe advised was Andy playing DC and then taking a month out, which would take him up to Shanghai. That made sense to me, but it equally wouldn't surprise me if Andy plays all the events he is sceduled to play. We'll see.

You're right TJ - I was a bit careless there when trying to answer Linda's hypothetical question! Anyway I haven't seen anything to suggest Andy is planning a break, and I'm another hoping he'll be fit and well for WTF - I'm there all day Monday and Thursday.

You're right TJ - I was a bit careless there when trying to answer Linda's hypothetical question! Anyway I haven't seen anything to suggest Andy is planning a break, and I'm another hoping he'll be fit and well for WTF - I'm there all day Monday and Thursday.

Not to worry . I haven't seen anything to suggest Andy might have a break either. If he doesn't I hope it will because he doesn't feel he needs it, rather than because he may be anxious about ranking points. I totally agree with Ruthie, I wouldn't want to see Andy chasing every tournament in sight. That wouldn't be good for him, surely.

I hope you and Ruthie and everyone going has a great time. Fingers crossed for Andy too, not just that he plays well, but also that he doesn't end up being treated as he was last year by that daft element.